Yesterday was a good day. We got an early start and headed for the little town of Hill City, about 6 miles away. In the hardware store we got everything we needed, included the pin for the tow dolly, a small step ladder to wash the awning better, and a small electric heater (here they don't just stock for the season?). Then we went next door to the market and got everything we needed in food. A quick trip back to the rv to put away the food and make sure that the pin fit. It did. So off we go.
We drove about 40 miles to Deadwood. It was a fairly busy back road, and the landscape was very green and all of the property was very well maintained. Lots of touristy stuff and there is also apparently a pretty good winter season here. No question that tourism is the main product of this area.
Deadwood is a small community whose claim to fame is gambling. We parked at a casino and had a great breakfast buffet. The people there were very nice. Then we play the slots for a few hours. We had some fun and won a little and lost a little. It was a nice way to spend a few hours. One of the best parts is that Deadwood is quite a bit lower in altitude so Bob spent the time breathing better and got energized.
We left Deadwood and headed north to Lead. Lead, despite its name, is a gold mining community. It is built in a canyon and up a mountainside. It reminded me of Bisbee Arizona. (With the traveling we have been doing it seems that more and more I am saying that one place reminds me of another place.) We then took a three hour ride in the black hills. I never knew why it was called the black hills until yesterday. We were driving along and I saw a sign to a scenic overview. At about the same time Bob said "wait until you get around this bend, the view will be great." We pulled into the overview and the view of the valley was spectacular. (It was so vast that it could not be taken in pictures - besides, I was driving and it was harder to jump out.) Then we pulled forward to the historic marker which explained that it is called the black hills because of the huge carpet of pine trees that covered the hills that make it look black. When we looked, you could see that it was true.
Again the area looked lush (wonder what it will look like in August when there is less rain). By then there were huge clouds on the horizon and moving toward us. These clouds were not as big or moving as fast as we had seen in Gillette. It was fascinating watching the cloud formations along with the rock formations. There were a couple of formations that really struck my eye (dangerous when I was driving on ess curves up a mountainside.) But you could see the layers of geological history. (Can't wait to get to the southwest and see more of this.) There was no place to pull off and get pictures, alas. Bob and I did discuss the fact that it might be interesting to take a geology class when we get back home. Hmm.
We stopped for dinner in Custer SD at a steak house. They had buffalo on the menu. I was not really in the mood for meat, but I had to try buffalo. I got the BBQ buffalo brisket. I must say that all I could taste really was the bbq sauce, which was good. I could tell that it was not beef somehow, not sure how, but it tasted fine. Glad I tried it. The best thing there was the peach flavored green tea. Yummy.
We missed any rain while we were inside eating. Bob was by now exhausted because the last few hours were at a really high altitude. So it was home and very soon to bed. Betsy ius very comfortable and we are quite happy.
The campground here is very full. Most of the campers are families with numbers of children (some are grandchildren and some look to include the neighbors kids - who could have six kids?) The rvs here are more varied than we saw in Gillette. All we saw in Gillette were large bus units called class A's Here there is everything, including tents, and they are all sizes. The kids get a little noisy, but, they are all quiet by 10 pm, so it is not bad. It is fun watching them run and play. We will have to bring the grandson here (and maybe his parents).
More sightseeing today. It is a little cloudy now, but will be getting sunny soon and for the next few days.
Our Verizon cell phones and thus the jet pack do not work here. So I am dependent on the campground's wifi. It is very slow and sometimes impossible. If I don't blog for a day, you will all understand, but I will keep trying.
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